Measures to limit the number of teacher training providers being considered by the government could risk “damaging” the “pipeline” of new recruits, universities have warned.
Earlier this week, Tes reported that the Department for Education’s review of initial teacher training (ITT) could lead to the number of providers allowed to operate being slashed.
Sources revealed how the review, which the DfE established with the aim of developing a more ”effective” ITT market, could lead to fewer institutions offering the training.
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One source said the reduction in provider numbers could be significant. Another said the government was considering a major reshaping of the market.
Now universities have warned that some institutions may start to “reconsider” teacher training provision if reforms are “overly burdensome or disruptive”.
Responding to the news that the review may result in a reduction in ITT providers, Rama Thirunamachandran, chair of MillionPlus, the association for modern universities, said this could put the “overall supply” of teacher trainees in jeopardy.
“Modern universities have a long-established history of providing high quality initial teacher training in England and every one is rated as good or outstanding in this area by Ofsted,” he said.
“There is a risk that major disruptions to the ITT market will place pressures on the partnerships that universities have built up with schools over many years.
“University leaders may start to reconsider ITT provision if reforms are overly burdensome or disruptive.
“As a result moves to limit the number of providers in the system potentially risks damaging the overall supply of ITT in England and therefore the pipeline of people going into the teaching profession.”
The #TeachBest campaign, launched earlier this year by the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers, also warned of potential teacher supply issues.
Sharing this week’s Tes story, the campaign wrote: “Now is the worst time for children to be faced with a teacher shortage if the [government] continues to threaten the teacher training pipeline.”
The already delayed IoT would only have 1k places - as many as 10k may go. Now is the worst time for children to be faced with a teacher shortage if the gov continues to threaten the teacher training pipeline. More info: https://t.co/eNSiNaEfFZ #TeachBesthttps://t.co/J8MM35HLvH
- #TeachBest (@TeachBest_) May 25, 2021
The DfE said the aim of the review was not to reduce the number of teachers entering training or the profession.
It added that it had committed to wider sector engagement in late spring and planned to conduct a public consultation on final proposals before they are implemented.
